Daniel Harner was on his daughter's couch in Jackson when a man pulled an iron bar from his coat and whacked him across the face, breaking bones and teeth.

"He said, 'Sorry, but it's your day to die,'" Harner said Thursday at the sentencing for Troy Barlow.

Troy Barlow

Barlow beat Harner over the head, leaving permanent dents in his skull, then stabbed him in the throat with a knife, and then with a screwdriver. He barely survived and spent six weeks at the University of Michigan Hospital.

Barlow pleaded no contest to assault with intent to murder as a habitual offender.

Harner, 62, of Jerome was at his daughter Shannon's house that afternoon. She was at work and her 12-year-old son was in school. Shannon said she had a brief relationship with Barlow and quickly realized she wanted nothing to do with him.

Harner had never met Barlow but let him into the house twice that day, the second time because Barlow said he needed to use the bathroom. As Barlow was leaving 10 minutes later, Barlow ran across the living room waving an iron pry bar, Harner said.

Harner fought off the much larger attacker and tossed the bar across the room. Then, Barlow pulled a knife from his coat and stabbed Harner repeatedly in the throat. When Harner wrested the knife away, Barlow pulled a screw driver from his coat and, again, stabbed Harner in the throat. Blood spurted from his neck and head.

"I asked him, 'Why are you doing this?'" Harner said.

"He said, 'Because I hate your daughter,'" Harner said.

Defense attorney Alfred Brandt said Barlow is bipolar and would have been institutionalized a generation ago. He said Barlow attempted suicide twice in 2007 and did not intend to kill anyone.

Barlow apologized and told McBain he had no idea why he attacked Harner.

Assistant Prosecutor Jared Hopkins said he is convinced Barlow would have killed Shannon Harner and her son had they been home.

"This was pure evil," Hopkins said. He argued McBain should sentence about the maximum 29.5 years recommended in the guidelines.

In emotional statements, the father and daughter said the attack has left them and her son scared and emotionally scarred. They used to gather at least once a week. They rarely visit now.

Harner said he doubts he can ever return to his daughter's house. He had planned to visit his sister in Florida in early March. She died while he was in the hospital.

Shannon Harner asked McBain to keep Barlow in prison for life to protect her family.

"I feel so guilty this happened to him," she said as her father consoled her at the podium. "Dad doesn't blame me, but I cannot get past this."